Morris County — the hub of New Jersey. It’s the place so many of us chose to live because of the schools, the location and the quality of life.
Home to approximately 524,000 residents, including an estimated 106,000 children, Morris County is one of the three most affluent counties in New Jersey based on median household income. That surprised even me — we rank ahead of Bergen County.
It’s where we want to live. Where we want to raise our kids. Where we expect families to thrive.
But there’s another side of Morris County that we don't always see.
Last year, 618 people experienced homelessness, representing 447 households.
Our county is served by dozens of food pantries and emergency food providers, many of which are incredibly busy — and some struggle to keep their shelves stocked.
And 156 children were in foster care across Morris and Sussex counties.
These aren't problems confined to one or two towns. Need exists throughout Morris County.
The families struggling could be dealing with a job lost to corporate downsizing. A major illness they never saw coming. A divorce that turned their financial world upside down. A death in the family. A rent increase. An unexpected expense. Or one of countless other circumstances that can change a family's life remarkably quickly.
They are our neighbors. They are families at our children's schools. And any one of us could someday find ourselves needing a helping hand.
So What Can We Do?
At Macaroni KID, we're about more than finding things to do with our kids. We're also about being part of the communities where we're raising them.
And, when it's age appropriate, we believe in giving our children opportunities to discover just how good it feels to help someone else.
Recently, we learned about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit with a simple mission: No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!
And then we learned something that stopped us in our tracks.
They're building 50 beds this weekend for children right here in Morris County.
Fifty Beds, Fifty Kids.
In one of the most affluent counties in New Jersey, there are children who don't have beds to sleep in.
How is that possible?
More importantly: How can we help change it?
Kids Can Help Build the Beds on Saturday, September 12th or November 7th
(sign up here for 9/12 or sign up here for 11/7)
One of the things we love about this project is that children can participate alongside an adult.
Older kids and teens — and adults with the skills to teach them — may be able to help with jobs such as sawing, sanding, drilling, assembling, staining and branding the wood.
Have younger kids? There are simpler jobs, too, including sorting pieces and helping with other age-appropriate tasks.
They may not build an entire bed themselves, but they'll go home knowing that something they did that day helped another child in their community have a safe, comfortable place to sleep.
That's a pretty powerful lesson.
And if you're reading this because your child needs a bed, please know that you can apply to receive one. There is no financial docs needed, just a 3-17 year old in need of a bed. [APPLY FOR A BED HERE]
Can't Make this weekend's Bed Build?
Unfortunately, this year's build falls on Rosh Hashanah (sign up here), which means many local families who might otherwise participate won't be able to attend. There's a second build November 7 at Turkey Brook Park (sign up here).
But this isn't about one volunteer day.
There are plenty of ways for Morris County families — including our kids — to make a difference throughout the year.
Join one of our Birthday Cake Kit assembly days and help us create birthday kits for families using local food pantries. Help stock or maintain a Little Free Library. Donate to your local food pantry. Ask your kids to choose something at the grocery store each week to put into the donation bin.
Or consider something incredibly simple: add one item to a recurring monthly order for Amazon delivery.
A $2 or $3 jar of peanut butter.
A box of cereal.
A can of soup.
Have it delivered to your local pantry every month.
One family doing that may seem small. Thousands of Morris County families doing it could be extraordinary.
We live in an incredible community. Let's make sure that the things that make Morris County such a wonderful place to raise our children reach all of our children.
And let's raise kids who understand that being part of a community isn't just about what it offers us.
It's also about what we can give back.
Help Us Find More Ways for Kids to Give Back ❤️
Do you know of a great Morris County volunteer opportunity that welcomes children or families? We want to hear about it!
Send it to amandajanke@macaronikid.com, and we'll continue building our list of ways Morris County kids can help Morris County neighbors.
